This past month (August) has been absolutely crazy! It has got to be the longest month that I have ever experienced. Yes it did have 31 days, but that is not what I’m talking about. So much has happened. There were great joys and great difficulties. However, through it all God was faithful and He will continue to be faithful. Thank the Lord for His Spirit dwelling in us! He does not expect us to walk alone.
THE STUDENTS HAVE ARRIVED! It’s hard to believe. I’ve been here all summer knowing that this day would come and now we are in our fourth week of the semester. Wow! We are so blessed to have solid students who are here with open hearts to the Lord. Every single one of them are such genuine people. I look forward to getting to know them better.
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| Our students-Fall '11: Katie, Hana, Joe, Gerry, & Kelsey |
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| The girls and I hanging out with Bailey |
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| The students in class |
Unfortunately Gabriel, one of our staff members, had to return to the States because of a medical emergency. He is greatly missed. However, the Lord’s plans are so good and we trust Him through it all. “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
I aged another year. I turned 21 years old. No big deal. Birthdays have never been a big thing to me. I have two brothers older then I, so by the time my birthday rolls around the age doesn’t even seem cool. “I’m all used up 21,” I say. However, I was thinking about how fortunate I am as a child of Christ. I’m only 21 years old. I’ve lived in two foreign countries, and been to eight countries. The Lord has blessed my life with solid friendships. I literally know people all around the world. I have a wonderful family. Grandparents who’s main desire in raising us was that we would know the Lord. With simply those things you can say that I’m truly blessed. There is no doubt about it. However, here is the thing that gets me. If you asked me, “what do you want to do when you grow up?” I’d say, “I’m doing it.” Wow. I’m 21 years old and the Lord has graced me with the opportunity to do what I desire most. I’m so blessed to be here as a missionary serving the Lord in whatever way He sees fit. A life in Christ is truly an adventurous thing. There is no telling where He’ll take you. Most times you can’t see beyond the next bend, but you know that His plans are good. Whether there are joys or difficulties ahead, you know that He will be with you. I wouldn’t live any other way then as a child of God. It’s no doubt, the best way to live.
In me personally? Well, I’m going to have to pick one theme that the Lord has been showing me, because He has revealed so much to me since my last update. After all, I did just live the longest month ever. I’ve been meditating on the pleasure of God. It has been such a blessing. This verse is what started me to ponder, “For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and all the deep places.” -Psalm 135:5-6. Wow! This chapter continues on to show God’s hand in creation and in redemption. The Lord pleased to create man to whom He gave a free will. He knew man would turn away from Him and reject the love that He so freely gives, yet He created man. He didn’t stop at creation, but continued by redeeming us. He took pleasure in our redemption. “LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?”-Psalm 144:3. Yet in Psalm 139:17 we read, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” In Ephesians 1 Paul tells of our pardon from sin (by the sacrifice of Christ) and that we are predestined to the adoption of God because it was according to His good pleasure. There are so many verses that I wish I could share, but one more I must. It says, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” -Luke 12:32. The mercies of God don’t stop do they? They are everlasting. It pleased the Lord that He would create us, redeem us by the blood of His only Son, bring us into His family, give us an inheritance, and give us the kingdom. Wow! I’m so thankful to serve a God who pleases to do good things. Things that are always to my gain. His love for me is so great. All I want to do is bring Him pleasure with this life. He is so good!
Prayer request
- Pray for the student as they spend their semester in Costa Rica. May they set apart this time for the Lord so that they might know Him more. The Lord will reveal Himself if there hearts be willing to receive it. Pray for open hearts.
- Pray for Gabe as the Lord is doing new things in and through Him.
- Continue to pray for Gabby and Shirley (our tica friends) as they walk with the Lord. May their roots be planted deep in Christ so that this world cannot move them.
- Pray for the Church and the Schockey family(Pastor’s family). May they be strengthened as they continue to serve the Lord as He wills.
- Pray for the staff here at the Bible College. For Ryan, that the Lord might give him a refreshed vision of what He desires for this campus. May the Lord not only give him revelation as the director, but also personally. Pray that the Lord strengthen him physically and spiritually. May each morning be a time of revival as he spends it with the Lord. For Gerry, that the Lord would draw him closer into His presence. May the Lord continue to make his heart more and more like Christ’s. Pray that He finds a balance of being part of the student body as well as staff. As he is about to graduate, pray that the Lord would give him direction for his life. For me, that the Lord would continue to chisel, mold, break, and shape me to be more like Him. May I be the woman of God He desires me to be. Let the things that I say and do be pleasing to His sight. Also, for my physical health. Pray that the Lord strengthens me and gives me wisdom on how to take care of myself.
Thank you so much for you're thoughts and prayers. I appreciate them!
